Trinidad and Tobago
How to get to Trinidad and Tobago: airports, flights and border crossings
Fly into Piarco (POS) for Trinidad or Crown Point (TAB) for Tobago; Piarco is the only airport with long-haul flights, so most trips land there and hop across. There is no land border and no car ferry from the mainland, so arrival is by air or by sea only.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
GuideTrinidad and Tobago
Key facts
- Main airport
- Piarco International (POS), about 25 km east of Port of Spain
- Tobago airport
- Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson International, Crown Point (TAB)
- Air bridge
- POS–TAB shuttle, about 25 minutes; the fast ferry takes roughly 2.5–3 hours
- Land borders
- None — Trinidad and Tobago is a two-island state with no road link abroad
- Entry by seacheck
- Cruise ships and private yachts clear at Port of Spain or Scarborough; no scheduled car ferry from Venezuela
- Currency on arrivalcheck
- Trinidad and Tobago dollar (TTD); about 6.7–6.8 per US$
- Time zone
- UTC−4 all year, so no jet lag shift from US Eastern in winter
Airports and gateways
Trinidad and Tobago has two international airports. Piarco (POS) on Trinidad handles the long-haul and North American traffic and is the gateway for almost every first trip. Crown Point (TAB) on Tobago takes regional and seasonal flights, mostly from the US east coast, Canada and the Caribbean.
If your trip pairs both islands, land at Piarco, spend the Trinidad nights, then cross by the air bridge or the fast ferry. Flying into Tobago first works too, but you will usually connect through Trinidad or a Caribbean hub anyway.
Both airports are small and quick to clear outside peak arrivals. Piarco sits about 25 km east of Port of Spain on the Churchill–Roosevelt Highway; allow 45–75 minutes by road in traffic. Crown Point is a short drive from the Tobago beach strip.
| Airport | Code | Serves | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Piarco International | POS | Trinidad, Port of Spain | Long-haul and North American flights; main gateway |
| Crown Point (A.N.R. Robinson) | TAB | Tobago, Scarborough area | Regional and seasonal flights; second stop on a two-island trip |
Terminal details and seasonal routes change; confirm with your airline (check).
Flights by origin
From the US east coast, nonstop flights to Piarco run from several hubs and take roughly 4.5–5.5 hours. From the UK, nonstop service to Piarco takes about 9–10 hours; some routings connect through a US or Caribbean hub. From Canada, nonstop and one-stop options run from Toronto and Montreal in roughly 5.5–7 hours.
From Australia and New Zealand there is no nonstop service. Expect two or more connections, usually through the US, UK or a Caribbean hub, with total travel time of about 30–40 hours. Book the whole route on one ticket so a missed connection is the airline's problem.
Fares move with season and Carnival. December to April and the Carnival period are the expensive windows; September to November is usually cheaper but sits in the wet season.
| From | Nonstop to POS | Flight time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| US east coast | Yes, from several hubs | About 4.5–5.5 hours | Most common route; check seasonal schedules |
| UK | Yes | About 9–10 hours | Some routings connect via a hub |
| Canada | Yes, from Toronto and Montreal | About 5.5–7 hours | Nonstop and one-stop options |
| Australia / New Zealand | No | About 30–40 hours total | Two or more connections via US, UK or Caribbean |
Times are typical gate-to-gate estimates and vary by route and season (check).
Crossing between the islands
The air bridge between Piarco and Crown Point is the fast option: a shuttle of roughly 25 minutes, with frequent departures through the day. Book ahead around holidays and Carnival, when seats fill.
The fast ferry between Port of Spain and Scarborough is the cheaper, slower option, taking roughly 2.5–3 hours each way. It is a comfortable crossing in normal conditions but can be rough in the wet season. Schedules and fares change, so confirm before you commit to a same-day connection.
Do not plan a tight same-day link between a long-haul arrival and an island crossing. Leave a buffer of several hours, or an overnight in Port of Spain.
- Air bridge: about 25 minutes, frequent, book ahead in peak periods
- Fast ferry: roughly 2.5–3 hours, cheaper, can be rough in the wet season
- Allow a buffer between a long-haul landing and any onward crossing
Entry by sea
There is no land border: Trinidad and Tobago is a two-island state with no road connection to any other country, and no scheduled car ferry from Venezuela despite the short distance. Arrival is by air or by sea.
Cruise ships dock in Port of Spain, and some smaller ships call at Scarborough on Tobago. Private yachts clear immigration and customs at the official ports of entry, normally Port of Spain or Scarborough. Check current clearance procedures and any cruising permits before you sail.
If you arrive by sea, the same entry rules apply as by air: a valid passport, proof of onward travel and a return ticket are commonly asked for. See the visa and entry requirements page for the document side.
Practical notes on arrival
Piarco and Crown Point both have taxi stands and car rental desks; agree the fare or use a licensed taxi rather than an unmarked car. Driving is on the left, and traffic around Port of Spain is heavy, so build in time on arrival day.
Change a small amount of money at the airport for immediate needs and use ATMs or banks in town for better rates. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas but change is usually given in Trinidad and Tobago dollars.
Buy a local SIM or eSIM at or near the airport if you want data from the moment you land; coverage is good on both islands. Travel insurance is worth arranging before departure, especially if you plan to dive or hike.
- Licensed taxis and rental desks at both airports
- Driving is on the left; expect heavy traffic near Port of Spain
- Change a little cash at the airport, more in town
- Arrange travel insurance before you fly
Questions people ask
What is the best airport to fly into for Trinidad and Tobago?
Piarco (POS) for Trinidad, Crown Point (TAB) for Tobago. Piarco has the long-haul flights, so most travellers land there and cross to Tobago by the 25-minute air bridge or the fast ferry.
How long is the flight to Trinidad and Tobago from the US, UK, Canada, Australia and NZ?
About 4.5–5.5 hours from the US east coast, 9–10 hours from the UK, 5.5–7 hours from Canada, and roughly 30–40 hours from Australia or New Zealand with two or more connections. Times vary by route and season.
Can I enter Trinidad and Tobago by land or sea?
There is no land border, so no. By sea, cruise ships dock at Port of Spain and private yachts clear at Port of Spain or Scarborough. The same passport and onward-travel rules apply as by air.
Do I need a visa to enter Trinidad and Tobago?
It depends on your passport. Many Western passports get visa-free entry for tourism, but rules change. Check the visa and entry requirements page and confirm with the nearest Trinidad and Tobago embassy before booking.
Should I fly into Tobago or Trinidad first?
Land at Piarco if you want the widest choice of flights and a two-island trip, then cross to Tobago. Flying into Crown Point first works if Tobago is your main stop, but you will usually connect through Trinidad or a Caribbean hub.
Is there a ferry between Trinidad and Tobago?
Yes, a fast ferry runs between Port of Spain and Scarborough in roughly 2.5–3 hours. It is cheaper than the air bridge but slower and can be rough in the wet season.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check